Suspected child rapist is charged

22 CHARGES OF MALE RAPE ➢ 22 CHARGES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ➢ TWO CHARGES OF THE SEXUAL ➢ EXPLOITATION OF A CHILD

A LOCAL MAN in his mid-forties appeared before Gorey District Court last week on 46 charges including sexually exploiting a child, sexual assault, and male rape, arising from alleged offences in the past five years.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces 22 charges of male rape, 22 charges of sexual assault, and two charges of sexually exploiting a child, on various dates between October 1, 2007, and September 30, 2012.

The 46 charge sheet numbers were read individually into court by Detective Sergeant Murt Whelan, who told Judge Gerard Haughton he arrested the defendant at 9.25 a.m. that morning at Gorey Garda Station.

After caution, he made no reply to any of the charges.

Inspector Sean Clince told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions has indicated the case should go to the Central Criminal Court, and asked for time to allow for the preparation of a Book of Evidence.

As part of the defendant's bail conditions, the Gardai asked that the defendant sign on each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at Gorey Garda Station between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. He must also not have any contact with the alleged injured party.

Judge Haughton remanded the defendant on bail to appear before the court again on March 14, for the service of the Book of Evidence. Other bail conditions dictate that he must not have contact with any witnesses, and that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

Ian Dorwood as Captain Hook and Kim Dorwood as Ocean Blossom in the Gorey Little Theatre Group's pantomime production of 'Peter Pan', which will open on Friday night (January 11). SEE PAGE 10.